Open or attachable link



June 15 1926. F 1,588,533

I E. P. ELZEY I OPEN OR ATTACHABLE LINK Filed NOV. 13, 1920 gag/{511012.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 15, 1926. e UN ED STATEs' 1,588,533 PATENT OFFICE,

EDGAR r. ELZEY, on rnnxnnsnnne, WEST VIRGINIA.

OPEN OR.ATTACHABLE LINK.

Application filed November 13, 1920.. Serial no. 423,775.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in open or attachable links; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled inthe' other means to chains or the like with the end in view of improving open-side or attachable links and the like.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features inconstruction, arrangement, or combination, as more fully and particularlyset forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective, a link embodying my present invention, the parts thereof appearing in normal operative position.

open for coupling to the link of a chain, or

to a hook, eye, ring or other device to which it is desirable to attach a chain or other con- Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a. different form of link or hook adapted to receive the guard in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the member of Fig. 4, bent to operative form and having the guard applied thereto, a chain link, appearing in section, being shown in the closed end of the member.

The particular example illustrated, as what I now believe to be thebest embodiment of my invention, consists of a. flat or elongated link 1, having side opening 2 normally closed andguarded by a coiled com pression spring 3.

In the particular example illustrated, I show a longitudinally elongated (so-called) 0 flat link formed by a single bar or length of metal bentto form the straight or un- Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the link broken side bar l the opposite curved transverse link end or hook portions 1", and the two broken side bar portions 1, spaced apart at their extremities to provide said side opening 2. In this example, the side openmg 2 is located mid-way between the opposite similar link ends 1', and the two bar' ends 1 are longitudinally alined, straight and of approximately the same length although as at present advised, I 'do not wish to so limit all features of my invention.

It will thus be noted, that this particular example, in effect provides two oppositely arranged hooks, the bar ends 1% forming the bills of the hooks, respectively, the bar length 1 forming a common stem for the two hooks.

The device (chain link, eye, hook, ring, loop etc.) to which the link is to be coupled,

passes intothe link through side opening 2' and can be received ateither end 1*. In fact, one element can be received at one end of the linkand another element at the other end of the link, as where the link is used to repalr a chain or to attach afchain to an eye or rlng or to attach one chain to any link of another chin. Q

The open side of the link is guarded by the .more or less flexible tube-like spring 3 arrangec'l longitudinally on the two bar ends 1 so as, to normally bridge the side opening 2. This spring is preferably so formed as to be longitudinally slidable on either bar end 1 to uncover the other bar'end and the opening 2. In other words, the spring is preferably slidable in either direction to uncover the side opening 2 from either side or end thereof.

The spring is usually composed of a single length of spring wire coiled into cylindrical or tubular form to provide a tube of sufficient length to approximately seat at its opposite ends against the opposite link ends 1 and extend throughout the lengths of the two bar ends 1 with the central portion of the spring tube bridging the link side opening 2. The spring tube preferably forms a compression tube so that it can be longitudinally. compressed from either end to uncover the link side opening and be thus held until the link has been coupled or attached to the device to be coupled thereto. Then when the spring is released, it will expand to normal position bridging the opening 2 and extending onto the other bar end.

The flexible tubular guard spring can be "or eXit' of the device to which the link is 7 being detached or from which it isbeing V detached.

ln the form of my invention dis'closedloy Fig. 5,-tlie link or hook is coinposed'of a single bar or pieee of'nietal or-Qother material suitable for thepurpo'se, IfOIFflECltOPIO- vide the unbrokenlongitudinal side bar 4, and the opposite' broken longitudinal side bariconsisting of straight alined e'nds 1 9,4",

spaced to provide inlet or side opening 5,

I and ij'oined -to the oar i l 1 by curved end cross EpOItlOIlS 4".

In this embodiment sof the invention, the

side {bar 4 is formed with 'an inwardhump or Ioffset 4 approaching the end 4 of the opposite longitudinal side of the i'link or Yhookzto Iprovide'an eye or loop at one end of'the hnk'or ihook in which a chain link or other: con'neetioiritl can he confined.

in this "arrangement, the compression springfzguard 3, is longitudinally arranged :on' the two bar: ends 4%, 24 3, and 'hridges the rside opening '5, land performs the functions aan'd is operated as hereinbefore described, fexceptifor the'fact that the spring is preferaloly so arranged as to "he slidable an'd coin- ;pressih'le to uncover} the s'hort end 4 and op'e'ning e, and usually not "in' the opposite direction to uncover "the long end l. WVith this arrange'Inent," the 1 short end constitutes the bill of a 'hook' formedb'y the upper end' 'p ortion (with reference to the position o f th'e deVice F-igJ M- of the-device.

8 By compressing and sliding the spring on the long end 4 the hook can be readily applied to and released from various connecting orcoupling devices, and the struc tureeanbeutilized as a snap hook.

The link of Fig. 5 can be made asshown byi-F igA vvith the long bar end 4 bent outwardly to afiord ample'rooin for the enitranceof the link 6 past the hump-4' and :into theloWer end of the link.

After the link is'thus applied, the end 4* is bent in- 'Wardly into alineinent wit-hendxd to con- "rlne thelink '6 to the lower end. of the device. The guardspri-ng'ca-nthen be applied. It 1s evident that varlous changesand wariations in :form and arrangement might "be resorted to -W1tl'iont departing frointhe 'FSPIIllL' and scope of my '1nvention,-and hence I do not Wish to limitinyself to the exact disclosure rhereof.

What I claim is: V 1. A repairZli-nk consisting of ;a-.rod of uniform diameter throughout its entire length bent to form -.a back-and tworeturn portions, the latter --each having opposed faces spaced apart to; permit t-heglpassingvhetween them of the li-nksto he.conneeted,=ic'haracteriZed-by the provision of .an .inwardlydirected hump in: the intermediate portion of said back. c

2. A repair link CO-IlSlStlIlg-;OfZZLFTIOCl-Of uniform diameter throughout its entire lengthbent to ronma hack and tWo:-1e'turn fp'ortions, the :letter each 'havingopposed faces ispaced apartto, permit thepassingbetween them of the links to be connected, characterized *by the :Lprovision of an in- Wardly directed 'huinp 'in'said back ;and :-spaced from the ends thereof, and a coiled z flexibleiguardespring'. on :and islidable :longi- 1 tndinally ioflsaid two return-portions.

EDGAR P. ELZE/Y.

was 

